Ex-con who came to Staten Island for Sandy-related work faces more charges

Tad Bennett, 45, an ex-con with a lengthy criminal history in Florida, moved to Staten Island about two months ago to find work doing Hurricane Sandy-related construction cleanup, neighbors said.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Florida transplant who came to Staten Island for Sandy-related construction worker and stayed for the car break-in opportunities has been charged with felony auto-stripping, authorities say.

Bennett’s alleged reign of theft included Prospect Avenue in New Brighton, Castleton Avenue in Tompkinsville, and Silver Lake Road in Brighton Heights.

He hit five vehicles on the 400 block of Victory Boulevard and three more on the 600 block in a single day, on Feb. 3, and two more on Louis Street in Grymes Hill, court papers allege.

He took GPS systems, cash, and a portable video game system, court papers allege.

Bennett, an ex-con with a lengthy criminal history in Florida, moved to Staten Island about two months ago to find work doing Hurricane Sandy-related construction cleanup, his neighbors on Pine Street in New Brighton said.

He’s charged with second-degree auto stripping, 11 counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, 15 counts of petit larceny and third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, and two counts of attempted petit larceny.